The European Union imposed sanctions against the Wagner Group, a "Russia-based unincorporated private military entity," the European Council said in a Dec. 13 press release. Including an asset freeze and travel ban, the restrictive measures apply to the Wagner group itself along with eight individuals and three entities related to the group. The EC declared that the Wagner Group has trained and sent private military operatives to hot spots around the world to "fuel violence, loot natural resources and intimidate civilians in violation of international law." Areas where the Wagner Group have operated include Libya, Syria, the Central African Republic and the Sahel region. The sanctions were arranged under four different sanctions regimes: the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime; the sanctions regimes for Libya and Syria; and the regime for undermining Ukraine's territorial integrity, the EC said.
The U.S. may need to consider new multilateral sanctions against Russia for its continued military aggression in Ukraine, the leaders of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said Dec. 13. Committee Chair Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., and ranking member Michael McCaul, R-Texas., said the U.S. can make “no concessions” for Russia at the “expense” of Ukraine’s sovereignty. “We stand ready to work with the Administration and our transatlantic allies to deter further Russian aggression against Ukraine,” the lawmakers said, “including by imposing serious new sanctions on Russia should it continue its invasion into Ukraine.”
The G-7 countries, along with the European Union, said Russia will see “massive consequences and severe cost in response” if it pursues further military actions in Ukraine, in a statement Dec. 13. While the countries didn’t specifically mention sanctions, Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, said he is working with the U.S. and the U.K. on potentially imposing a new set of designations. “We are studying together with the U.S. and the U.K. what [sanctions] could be, when and how, in a coordinated manner,” Borrell told reporters Dec. 13, according to Reuters. The G-7 countries called on Russia to “de-escalate, pursue diplomatic channels, and abide by its international commitments on transparency of military activities” or risk countermeasures. “We will intensify our cooperation on our common and comprehensive response,” the countries said.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed investment restrictions on SenseTime Group Ltd., a major Chinese technology company, and sanctioned 15 people and 10 other companies for human rights abuses, the agency said Dec. 10. SenseTime, which had prepared to price shares Dec. 10 in its initial public offering in Hong Kong, will now be subject to a U.S. investment ban and added to OFAC’s list of companies with ties to China’s military (see 2106030067).
Belarus has announced retaliatory measures against countries that have recently sanctioned it, imposing a ban on the import of certain goods originating in the United Kingdom, the European Union, the U.S. and Canada, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said Dec. 6. The measures also include restrictions on U.K. and EU air carriers, travel bans for certain officials in each of the sanctioned states and "other non-public steps," the foreign ministry said. Another countermeasure will be to "strengthen economic integration with the Russian Federation, as well as build strong trade and economic ties with" Eurasian Economic Union states and others.
The U.S this week imposed an arms embargo and new, broad export restrictions on Cambodia in response to government corruption and human rights abuses. The restrictions, released Dec. 8 by the Commerce and the State departments and effective Dec. 9, will apply more stringent controls on a range of dual-use and military-related exports to the country (see 2112020015).
Iran hasn’t offered “serious” proposals to return to the Iranian nuclear deal and has continued to accelerate its nuclear program despite objections from the U.S. and other countries, a senior State Department official said. The official, speaking to reporters Dec. 4, suggested the latest round of talks to rejoin the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action ended poorly after Iran demanded too many concessions and offered too little in return.
The United Kingdom amended sanctions listings under its Russia and Syria sanctions regimes, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation said Dec. 2. Russians Vladimir Andreevich Konstantinov and Petr Grigorievich Jarosh are still subject to an asset freeze, with slight modifications to their sanctions listings, OFSI said. Syrians Samir Izzat Qadi Amin and Samir Hassan remain subject to an asset freeze, with the statement of reasons on their listings updated, a notice said.
Ukraine has added 23 Russian nationals and five Ukranian citizens to its sanctions regime in a Nov. 18 decree from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. All 28 individuals are reported to be employees of the Russian special services. For three years, the individuals will be banned from using their assets held in Ukraine, transferring capital, transporting goods or taking part in privatization auctions, the decree said, according to an unofficial translation.
Germany is privately urging Congress not to push for more sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, which it said could “undercut” European energy security and “seriously weaken transatlantic unity on Russia,” Axios reported Nov. 28. In a November “non-paper,” which was intended to be used in closed discussions, the Germany Embassy in Washington said the U.S. shouldn’t increase pressure on the project. It also reaffirmed its commitment to the joint declaration issued earlier this year (see 2107220008) that said it would push for European Union sanctions against Russia if the country weaponizes the pipeline.